News

Beyond the Drawings

Making Connections on the Course

Building Community, One Home at a Time

At Home in the Sheffield Neighborhood

Beyond Golf with Sports Simulators

Thrilled to Share Our Role in New View

PAWS Chicago Golf Open 2025

What is the Property Tax Assessment Freeze and How Can it Benefit Historic Homeowners?

Executive Spotlight: Edward Twohey

Columbus, Indiana Trip

Building at the water's edge

Celebrating 30 Years of Inspired Spaces

Don’t Demolish that house. Dismantle it.

Tudor Kitchen Renovation

Home in Berlin, Germany Comes to Fruition.

Employee Spotlight - Jennifer Hense, AIA

Renovate or Detonate

New Homes on the Boards in 2021

Modern Luxury Interiors North Shore

Meet Nick Moorhouse

Luxury remodel of Lake Geneva home

bba Architects Habitat Build Day

Modern River Cottage

Golf Course Home Update

Aspire Design and Home Magazine

De-code Electronics In Your Home

Lincoln Park Transformation

North Center Craftsman

Meet Erin Morgani

2024 Summer Project Tours

Habitat for Humanity Build Day 2022

Bricks, Inc Tour + Demo

Building Code Undergoing a Major Change

Beer Tasting + Design Presentation

Meet Jack Callahan

Collaborating on Luxury Kitchen Trends

Mentoring Millwork Design

Employee Spotlight - Erica Blawat, AIA

The Knowledge Behind Every Recommendation

Raising the Roof

Finding Famous Architecture in a Cemetery

Elmhurst Historic Preservation Commission

North Side River Home Taking Shape

Historic Shaw Remodel

Deconstruct & Re-Use

Building a Traditional Jewel Box

Habitat Build Day 2024

Allison Henry Interiors Alliance

Classicist, No. 16.

Pool House

High Gables

Should You Hire an Interior Designer?

Meet Monica Musialowski

Can I Lower My Floor to Improve My Basement?

Tribute to Broad Shoulders 2022

Meet Maggie Willse

Creating Outdoor Spaces

BBA Architects Continue to Educate

Urban Deep Dig #1

1880’s Historic Queen Anne

An Excellent Italian Adventure

BBA News Blog

(See full archive

September 2026

August 2026

July 2026

June 2026

May 2026

Contemporary Pool House Meets Historical Charm

Dana Burgess on Oct 28, 2019

When our clients purchased their new home, they hoped to create an integral hangout space their family and friends could enjoy throughout the summer months. Their wish list included a pool, pool house, and an open terraced area with pergola.

The home’s expansive yard offered many opportunities for the placement of the pool house and its amenities. However, looking out onto the yard from the main house made it clear where the pool house needed to be situated. On axis with the previously renovated kitchen, both the pool and pool house are nestled into the landscape and offer beautiful views for the client to enjoy throughout the year.

One of the main goals of the pool house design was to make it look like it was an original building on the site, blending seamlessly in with its surroundings. Taking inspiration from the existing main house and guesthouse, which were originally built in the early 1900s, the pool house mimics the forms and materiality to create a cohesive look. Similar in size to the guest house, it only seemed natural to replicate the roof shape of the guesthouse for the 900SF pool house. Brick and slate roof tiles were selected to represent a close match to the guest house exterior.

Within the pool house, a generous open space provides plenty of room for entertaining and lounging. Along with radiant heat in the slab, the fireplace will offer many cozy evenings on cooler summer nights and extend outdoor entertaining into the Fall weather. On either side of the open space, a symmetrical wet bar and prep area will be handy for entertaining. A changing area with full bath is tucked away from view from the main space.

With a nod to the historical references on the exterior, the interior will comprise of more contemporary but warm materials. The client wanted to replicate certain elements and materials from both the main house and guesthouse, such as floating shelves over the bar, a stone surround at the fireplace, and a wood-look porcelain floor tile.

The client requested a simple design that offered a functional space. Large pocketing doors allow for an expansive and unobstructed view to the pool and main house beyond. A nearly flush threshold from pool house to terrace to grade creates an easy transition between interior and exterior.

The contemporary pergola structure will consist of a simple aluminum clad steel structure. Manually operated sun shades will be installed between the pergola structure to provide additional shade to the terrace. 

The allowed maximum ridge height of an accessory building required lowering the pool house and pool into the existing grade, providing the opportunity to create interesting landscape features. Lannon stone retaining walls, stone steps, and planting beds around the pool deck, will pull the overall vision of an inviting and luxurious space together.


Architects: Gary Beyerl, Erica Blawat, Dana Burgess (bba Architects)
General Contractor: Mark Potesta
Landscape Architect: Earth Developments
Pool Consultant: Rosebrook Custom In ground Pools
Civil Engineer: Greengard, INC. 

Products featured in these photos: 
Marvin Windows and Ultimate Multi-slide Pocket Door

To view progress on this project, please follow us on Facebook or Instagram. Or check out our new website: https://www.bbaworld.com/home
 

Previous Post Next Post